The president of Cyprus, Nikos Christodoulidis, and Israeli Prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu – Israel Prime Minister’s Office
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MADRID 4 May. (EUROPA press) –
The Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has once again questioned the Qatar function as an intermediary in contacts for the negotiation of an agreement for the release of Israeli hostages retained by the Palestinian militias in the Gaza Strip.
“We had an agreement for the hostages about to materialize that would have allowed half of the hostages to be released, with the help of Egypt. We did not see Qatar’s collaboration, so to speak, which would have allowed to materialize this agreement,” said Netanyahu at a press conference with President Grecochipriot, Nikos Christodoulidis.
The Israeli leader explained that “that is what we hope to see, the support of our friends and the pressure of those who can press Hamas.”
Christodoulidis has argued that the liberation of hostages is a “purely humanitarian and humanitarian issues do not have political or geopolitical aspects.”
“You’re right,” Netanyahu said. “The liberation of hostages and the repatriation of return to Israel from those who are alive and that of those who are not is the number one requirement from the International, moral and common sense point of view,” he argued.
“Unfortunately, Hamas does not recognize this. That is why we must increase the pressure both diplomatic and military and that is what we are going to do. My friend thanks for coming to Jerusalem,” he added in reference to the arrival of Christodoulidis to the Ben Gurion International Airport, on the outskirts of Tel Aviv, just a few hours after the impact of a projectile launched by the Yemenis hutis that has left six injuries.
During the meeting, Netnayahu and Christodoulidis have agreed to sign this year the agreement for the construction of an electric cable that communicates both countries through the Mediterranean waters in the so -called IMEC project.
“This electric cable is important since Israel is considered an energy ‘nation’ and this corridor would connect the East and West, India and Europe,” said Netanyahu’s office in a statement.
In addition, Netanyahu and Christodoulidis have addressed negotiations on the Aphrodite-Yishai gas deposit that, according to the office of the Israeli president “are in an advanced phase and will be signed in the next two months.”
